Returning Malaysians -- An Answer to Talent Crunch in 2015

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA--(Marketwired - Jan 28, 2015) - According to the latest annual Global Salary Survey from professional recruitment firm Robert Walters, the Malaysian employment market is likely to remain largely candidate-driven in 2015, with top performing professionals commanding multiple job opportunities as well as counter offers.

Local companies have also increasingly shown keen interest in hiring overseas nationals due to their global exposure and knowledge of the domestic business culture. This was largely a result of strong initiatives from the Malaysian government agency TalentCorp, which actively engaged with local talent working overseas under its Returning Expert Program. In 2014, these skilled candidates were particularly in demand within the IT, finance and banking sectors. We expect to see a prevalent awareness for returning Malaysians in 2015 which will widen the local talent pool.

The Survey suggests that on average, professionals who secure new positions will expect a 10-20% salary increment in 2015. However, if demand continues to exceed supply, candidates are likely to receive counter offers which will drive salaries up further.

Sally Raj, Country Manager of Robert Walters Malaysia, comments:

"Malaysia enjoyed healthy growth due to expansion within the shared services industry and the entrance of multinational hubs. This was largely attributed to the government's policies which allow ease in setting up business operations. As a result, we also saw more intense competition between organisations for top talent. To address the demand for quality Malaysian professionals in a limited candidate pool, companies have turned their attention to attracting local overseas talent to strengthen the domestic workforce."

Other Key Highlights for 2015

Tax professionals experienced in GST and transfer pricing will be in high demand. Due to talent scarcity, employers can consider candidates with credible background in corporate tax

Demand for IT infrastructure specialists and project managers is set to rise as companies move their infrastructure and security into a cloud environment

Legal and compliance professionals with experience in banking and finance are highly sought-after to advise on the various regulatory and free market changes planned for 2015

Notes to editors:

1. Robert Walters is one of the world's leading specialist professional recruitment consultancies and focuses on placing high-calibre professionals into permanent, contract and temporary positions at all levels of seniority. The Malaysia business recruits across the accountancy and finance, banking, business support, compliance, financial services, HR, legal, IT, sales, supply chain, marketing, procurement and supply chain fields. Established in 1985, the Group has built a global presence with 53 offices spanning 24 countries.

2. Compiled by our dedicated research division, the Salary Survey is based on an analysis of placements made across our network of offices and specialist disciplines during the course of 2014. Now in its sixteenth year, the Survey is used by employers, HR managers and employees for benchmarking salary levels within their industry.